Long Island Cares, Inc.https://www.licares.org
Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:48:17 -0400en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.1This Is The Best Way To Help Others In The Aftermath Of A Hurricanehttps://www.licares.org/article/best-way-help-others-aftermath-hurricane/
Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:26:20 +0000https://www.licares.org/?p=9878Whether you want to donate cash, goods, or services to assist in the Hurricane Harvey response, make sure you do so responsibly with information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Learn the safest and most effective ways to donate or volunteer with these FEMA guidelines: Cash is the most efficient method of donating. Cash […]

Affiliate with existing non-profit organizations before coming to the disaster area. Contact and affiliate with an established organization to ensure that you receive training to respond in the most effective way.

Be safe. Do not self-deploy. Wait until it is safe to travel to volunteer sites and authorities identify opportunities to help.

Be patient. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after the disaster.

]]>Thanks Sammy Hagar For Helping Us In The Fights Against Hunger On Long Islandhttps://www.licares.org/announcements/thanks-sammy-hagar-helping-us-fights-hunger-long-island/
Mon, 25 Sep 2017 15:30:25 +0000https://www.licares.org/?p=9861On Saturday, September 23, Chief Government Affairs Officer for Long Island Cares, Inc., Michael Haynes, had the privilege of meeting Sammy Hagar before he took the stage with his band the Circle for a wonderful show. Sammy has been an advocate in the fight against hunger for many years, and discussed with us the role […]

]]>On Saturday, September 23, Chief Government Affairs Officer for Long Island Cares, Inc., Michael Haynes, had the privilege of meeting Sammy Hagar before he took the stage with his band the Circle for a wonderful show. Sammy has been an advocate in the fight against hunger for many years, and discussed with us the role of food banks in disaster relief and also our innovative veteran services.

When Sammy played “Right Now,” he shared information on how the audience can find their closest Feeding America food bank and encouraged everyone in attendance to take action in the fight to end hunger. We’re grateful to work with such talented and inspiring folks in the fight against hunger. Take a look at the photos below and don’t forget to SHARE with your fellow Long Islanders!

]]>We’re Super Excited To Announce The Mobile School Pantry Starts Todayhttps://www.licares.org/announcements/super-excited-announce-mobile-school-pantry-starts-today/
Mon, 25 Sep 2017 14:13:21 +0000https://www.licares.org/?p=9854Kids always eat free with us! We’re trying to make sure all little bellies are full and fed with healthy food choices. We work hard to bring the healthiest food possible into our warehouse and distribute nutritious meals to all our clients. The mobile school pantry helps us reach our health goals while we keep […]

We’re trying to make sure all little bellies are full and fed with healthy food choices. We work hard to bring the healthiest food possible into our warehouse and distribute nutritious meals to all our clients. The mobile school pantry helps us reach our health goals while we keep little bellies well fed. Please take a look at the following dates and times and bring your children out to say hello and join us for a meal:

]]>Make Sure You Check Out Hunger This Fallhttps://www.licares.org/announcements/make-sure-check-hunger-fall/
Fri, 22 Sep 2017 15:07:04 +0000https://www.licares.org/?p=9831We are all familiar with the sugary sweets we find on the checkout line. It’s too easy to cave to the impulse buys sitting beside the cashier. So rather than checking out chocolate this Autumn, why don’t you Check Out Hunger? From now through the new year, various supermarkets on Long Island will be participating […]

]]>We are all familiar with the sugary sweets we find on the checkout line. It’s too easy to cave to the impulse buys sitting beside the cashier. So rather than checking out chocolate this Autumn, why don’t you Check Out Hunger? From now through the new year, various supermarkets on Long Island will be participating in our simple donation program.

It’s easy and just as impulsive as buying that chocolate bar. When your cashier finishes checking you out, they’ll ask you to donate $1, $3, or $5 to benefit Long Island Cares. This is your cue to say, “yes, I would love to help fight hunger on Long Island.”

Every dollar you donate goes directly to families in need and you might be surprised to find that the families we serve vary greatly. Just because somebody looks like they’re doing okay, doesn’t mean everything is actually fine. Many people we serve are going through tough times and a little nudge of help goes a long way. In fact, each dollar donated translates to roughly 1.35 pounds of food.

As a food bank, we have very good relationships with local farmers and food providers. We have deals that enable us to buy large quantities of food at wholesale prices, so every dollar is stretched farther than Mr. Eleastic giving you a high five from Canada. Anyway…please donate. Take a look at the participating grocery stores and the dates they will be involved:

]]>THERE’S A GROWING CONCERN ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY AMONG SENIORS IN AMERICAhttps://www.licares.org/article/paule-pachters-blog/theres-growing-concern-food-insecurity-among-seniors-america/
Wed, 20 Sep 2017 13:21:48 +0000https://www.licares.org/?p=9822In a just released report by Feeding America entitled, The State of Senior Hunger and Health in America in 2015, the national umbrella organization for America’s 200 food banks raises concerns about what seniors are consuming and how food insecurity can lead to numerous health issues as we age. Although the data isn’t startling and […]

In a just released report by Feeding America entitled, The State of Senior Hunger and Health in America in 2015, the national umbrella organization for America’s 200 food banks raises concerns about what seniors are consuming and how food insecurity can lead to numerous health issues as we age. Although the data isn’t startling and it draws conclusions that many in the health and human services are already aware of, the findings are still important especially, in relation to national policy that could severely impact seniors who rely on certain government entitlement programs like Medicare, SNAP, Social Security and Meals on Wheels to survive.

Food insecurity has been defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as “a person or family having limited access to enough nutritious food to live a healthy lifestyle.” According to the Feeding America study, in 2015, 8.1% of seniors in America age 60 or older or 5.4 million seniors overall, were considered to be food insecure. When it comes to our senior population, having access to any type of food cannot be the primary focus of regional food banks like Long Island Cares. We must focus on nutritious food and meals that contain proper amounts of nutrients in order to improve a person’s overall health. For many seniors faced with food insecurity, the one nutritious meal that they receive from the Meals on Wheels program might be the only nutritious meal they eat all day. New York State ranks among the top ten states that have 10% or more of their senior population impacted by hunger and food insecurity. A majority of seniors who are food insecure and live alone have incomes above the federal poverty level of approximately $12,000 for a single person household. The reason that Long Island Cares’ Mobile Pantry Program and programs like Meals on Wheels are so important is that no senior living on Long Island can meet any of their needs on $12,000 a year without relying on the support of government and the nonprofit human services system. The Feeding America study also reports that 1 in 4 seniors who are food insecure also have some form of disability, and that nearly two-thirds (73%) of food insecure seniors are white and mostly women. The number of seniors who are able to live with other family members can reduce the incidence of food insecurity.

The major concern about seniors who are food insecure is that they do not have a nutrient-rich diet which is important for good health and well-being. These seniors are consuming fewer calories and lower amounts of nutrients and vitamins. If you have to choose between paying a utility bill and buying food chances are you’re going to pay your bills. After all, no one wants their heat shut off in the winter or for their electricity to be turned off. Seniors who have limited access to nutritious food have been shown to suffer from various illnesses including high blood pressure, chest pain, physical limitations and the majority have shown symptoms of depression.

As a society we need to do more for our seniors who live on limited incomes and those that live alone. Having access to Meals on Wheels, home delivery of groceries, visiting companions, senior day care and transportation can help significantly and might even be essential. There’s no reason for any senior to go hungry on Long Island. If you know someone 60 or older in need of nutritious food please call Long Island Cares at 631.582.FOOD. We can provide you with information and referral services as well as bringing the food right to your front door.

Community food drives are a wonderful way for businesses, civic associations, schools, scouting groups and other organizations to get involved in supporting their local food pantry, soup kitchen and even their regional food bank like Long Island Cares-The Harry Chapin Food Bank. Quite often volunteers are outside local supermarkets, post offices, libraries and at shopping centers collecting food to feed the more than 300,000 Long Islanders experiencing food insecurity and domestic hunger. Many emergency food distribution agencies rely upon the generosity of the community to support their efforts through food drives. In some cases, the food donated by the community or local supermarkets or specialty stores may represent more than fifty-percent of a pantry’s inventory.

In the past five years, Long Island Cares and other regional food banks across America have increased our focus on the provision of healthy food choices for the organizations and people we serve. It has been well documented that there is a correlation between food insecurity and health problems. When people don’t have enough food, or they don’t have access to healthy foods on a regular basis, they are at-risk for a myriad of health problems including, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and more. Food banks are focusing on the health of people experiencing food insecurity because we not only have an obligation to feed the hungry, we have a responsibility to help them eat healthy.

When people donate to a local food drive they often want to donate as much as possible. They look to see what’s on sale in the supermarket or they go through their own home pantry to see what types of extra food they have that they can donate to feed the hungry. Often, the items a pantry or food bank receives from a drive are foods that are high in starch, carbohydrates, salt, sugars, and fat. Although there’s nothing wrong with pasta, peanut butter, jelly, rice, cereals, juices, tomato sauces and canned fruits, most nutritionists will tell you that eating these types of food in abundance can affect your health, especially if you’re food insecure and these are the majority of the food you receive from your local pantry. I certainly don’t want to discourage anyone from supporting food drives. What I want to encourage is that when we think about sponsoring a food drive we think about the people who will receive the food, especially infants, children, people with medical conditions, and the elderly. Long Island Cares has launched an innovative initiative with some of our member agencies to encourage developing a “healthy shelf” in their pantries, as we’ve done in our warehouse.

]]>We Had A Volunteer Appreciation Party Because Our Volunteers Are THE BEST!https://www.licares.org/article/blog/volunteer-appreciation-party-volunteers-best/
Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:38:04 +0000https://www.licares.org/?p=9814We love our volunteers. They are the community that keep us going. It takes a lot to keep Long Island Cares going and our ever-changing groups of volunteers are often the lifeline of our organization. On September 1, we decided to have a little volunteer appreciation party to show these awesome volunteers how much we […]

]]>We love our volunteers. They are the community that keep us going. It takes a lot to keep Long Island Cares going and our ever-changing groups of volunteers are often the lifeline of our organization.

On September 1, we decided to have a little volunteer appreciation party to show these awesome volunteers how much we adore them. Forty volunteers came out to the warehouse in Hauppauge to kick off Hunger Action Month by sorting and repacking food for local families in need, followed by a potluck.

If you’ve ever considered volunteering but are not sure what it entails, repacking is job volunteers regularly do. When LI Cares receives donations, often those donations need to be repacked and sorted. So we have our volunteers take that food and group them into the same bins, organize them into boxes for shipping, or put together bags for our recipients. It’s not very intensive work and requires very light lifting.

Carving out time and showing up regular does take commitment and dedication, however. We’re grateful for these volunteers who regularly make the time to show up and be a part of this cause.

Volunteer coordinator Alisha Summers said she is so grateful to work with such inspiring people. “They are always in a good mood and eager to help and I don’t know what we’d do without all these fantastic people.”

In total, Ocean State Job Lot plans to donate eight million pounds of food – or about 10.4 million meals – loaded on 200 tractor trailers throughout the year to 19 food banks and pantries, which will in turn distribute to thousands of soup kitchens and meal sites in six New England States, New York, and New Jersey.

Staff members and volunteers gathered to greet the delivery, mirroring the festivities at Job Lot’s distribution center in North Kingstown, R.I., when the public, VIPs, and local dignitaries cheer the convoy of trucks as they depart earlier that morning.

“As we mark Hunger Action Month, the generous donation from Ocean State Job Lot is a profoundly moving event and an example of partnership at every level,” said Paule T. Pachter, CEO of Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Food Bank.

“It begins with customers who donate at the register, matching funds from the Job Lot Charitable Foundation, and the involvement of business and food partners,” Pachter said. “Most importantly, it culminates in the delivery of substantial and nutritious food to provide meals for families and individuals throughout our region who need it the most.”

Three Square Meals is the single largest food assistance program of its kind in the region. It is operated by Ocean State Job Lot, a 127-store discount retail chain headquartered in North Kingstown, R.I.

Funds for Three Square Meals were raised between November and December last year through a combination of in-store customer donations at the register, contributions from the business community, and matching funds from the Job Lot Charitable Foundation. Job Lot donates the cost of operational support, including delivery, insurances, warehousing, fuel, labor, and other expenses to ensure that 100 percent of every dollar raised goes to the plate to help families and individuals in need.

]]>LI Cares Offers Free Pet Food To LI Families In Need Who Take In Animals Rescued From Houstonhttps://www.licares.org/press-release/li-cares-offers-free-pet-food-li-families-need-take-animals-rescued-houston/
Tue, 12 Sep 2017 17:36:52 +0000https://www.licares.org/?p=9779HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK, September 8, 2017 – As local animal shelters participate in recovery efforts in Houston by rescuing animals caught in floodwaters, Long Island Cares is taking measures to assure that animals that are brought back to Long Island are fed. The nonprofit, which operates Baxter’s Pet Pantry, will give Long Island families in […]

]]>HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK, September 8, 2017 – As local animal shelters participate in recovery efforts in Houston by rescuing animals caught in floodwaters, Long Island Cares is taking measures to assure that animals that are brought back to Long Island are fed. The nonprofit, which operates Baxter’s Pet Pantry, will give Long Island families in need who adopt or temporarily take in animals a free six-month supply of pet food.

“Our warehouse is filled with pet food, and we are ready to help,” said Paule T. Pachter, CEO of Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Food Bank. “Families in need who generously open their hearts and homes to animals rescued from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey should reach out to Long Island Cares for pet food.”

Families on Long Island are encouraged to contact Long Island Cares directly by calling 631-582-FOOD (3663).

In light of news about Hurricane Irma, Pachter stated that Long Island Cares will continue to offer free six-month supplies of pet food to Long Island families who help care for pets that might be rescued from Florida as well.

Baxter’s Pet Pantry was developed in partnership with the Animal Relief Fund Inc. (ARF). It makes free pet food and pet supplies available to pet-owning families in need in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York.

Long Island Cares mission:

Founded by the late Harry Chapin, Long Island Cares brings together all available resources for the benefit of the hungry and food insecure on Long Island and, to the best of our ability, provides for the humanitarian needs of our community. Our goals are to improve food security for families, sponsor programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency, and educate the general public about the causes and consequences of hunger on Long Island. Our vision is A Hunger Free Long Island.

]]>What Is “One Island Giving Day” And How Can You Get Involved?https://www.licares.org/article/one-island-giving-day-can-get-involved/
Mon, 11 Sep 2017 15:12:12 +0000https://www.licares.org/?p=9758Long Island holds a strong community of people. We all take pride in where we live and love it here. In an attempt to unite Long Islanders and increase the spirit of Long Island, The Hagerdorn Foundation partnered with local nonprofits, including Long Island Cares, to create One Island Giving Day. It’s a one-day virtual […]

]]>Long Island holds a strong community of people. We all take pride in where we live and love it here.

In an attempt to unite Long Islanders and increase the spirit of Long Island, The Hagerdorn Foundation partnered with local nonprofits, including Long Island Cares, to create One Island Giving Day. It’s a one-day virtual event that aims to raise $1 million dollars for local, Lon Island-based nonprofits. We are building a stronger Long Island for ALL Long Islanders.

The actual day is set for October 26, 2017 and includes more than 90 Long Island-based nonprofits. Long Island Cares is proud to be included in that list and we are setting our aims high.

So here’s what we ask of you:
Mark October 26, on your calendar and head over to Razoo to contribute to the cause. On the 26th, make your donation to Long Island Cares and show us how much you care! One Island Giving Day is an attempt to leave a mark, make an impression, and learn more about our island. After all, a million dollars in a day for 90+ nonprofits is a hefty goal. But it also says a lot about Long Island and if we rise to this challenge and meet that goal in one day, it makes a statement.

Donors have already started contributing and you are free to add to that list before the actual day. You can support Long Island Cares’ involvement in One Island Giving Day by donating here!